Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Overview

If you're thinking of relocating to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, you'll be in the company of about 20,000 people who call the area home. Regarded as a progressive community by residents, Portage La Prairie is near the Assiniboine River in southcentral Manitoba. The city was once a fur trading post.

Portage La Prairie hasn't moved far from those economic roots. Today, the city is an important transportation centre, connected to the rest of Canada by the Trans-Canada Highway, a transcontinental bus service, and Southport Aerospace.

City residents depend on the Assiniboine River as their water source. This natural reservoir also lends itself to affordable land prices, good drainage, and excellent soil conditions that promote local agriculture. The city's farming community produces specialty crops, and opportunities exist for other businesses to thrive as well in the 550 city acres designated for industrial use.

The average median income in Portage La Prairie is about C$46,000, lower than the national average of C$54,000.

Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Job Opportunities

Manufacturing and utility jobs aren't the only employment opportunities available. Sales and service occupations, including financial services, dominate the job market in the city. The job outlook appears promising for financial auditors and accountants, according to the Government of Canada Job Bank. Customer service representatives in this sector may make between C$11 and C$20 an hour.

Other thriving industries include advertising and PR services. The job outlook in this sector appears fair, with an average hourly wage of C$26.92 in the surrounding areas.

Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Employment Trends

Portage La Prairie continues to be a hub for transportation and is also focused on attracting new businesses to its available industrial space. The city has been very successful in its attempts to attract industry, which could lead to more growth in that sector.